Ten community groups across North Wales have received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to help them respond to issues arising from COVID-19 and to improve emotional health and wellbeing.
In Flintshire, Enbarr Foundation CIC, based in Queensferry, will use its £69,224 grant toenable people to become physically and mentally healthier through learning to grow and cultivate plants and cook food. The project will inspire young people to achieve their full potential, working with role models from the community.
Enbarr Foundation plan to resurrect the Grade 2 listed gardens at the Shotton Point Project, as well as renovate the John Summers building into an asset-based community development project that will be once again a source of pride and industry for local people.
Vicki Roskams, Engagement Manager and Director at Enbarr Foundation, said:“This National Lottery Community Fund award will make an incredible difference to our work and those that rely upon it within our community; it will help re-establish hope after these trying few months. As well as the great work the Enbarr Team will be doing to support reskilling and working alongside the community, the money gained from this invaluable funding will rejuvenate the fabulous Grade 2 listed parks and gardens. We are so grateful for this award and we are now excited to get started and to see the gardens come back to life for the local community to use.”
Also in Flintshire, Emerge Community Arts will use its £10,000 grant to develop an online and community-based programme of activities for young people and adults with complex learning and physical disabilities, while Parkfields Community Centre will use its £5,950 to run a six-month programme for their youth and kids’ clubs, which will allow the children and young people to take part in positive activities and active citizenship following the COVID-19 outbreak.
We Mind the Gap has received a National Lottery grant of £59,801 to develop a virtual mentoring programme for vulnerable young people in Wrexham and Flintshire negatively affected by lockdown. Future Factory will support these young people to find opportunities in life, education and employment and will become a face-to-face programme as restrictions allow. Practical support will be offered after the initial mentoring programme as they progress into education or employment.
Rachel Clacher CBE, Chair and Founder of We Mind The Gap said: “Young people need our attention more than ever. This funding is allowing us to pivot as a charity and to deliver a virtual programme expressly for those 16 years old and over that are at risk of not engaging with school. We are thrilled to receive The National Lottery Community Fund’s support for the programme.”
In Conwy, three projects have received a £10,000 grant each to support their community. Cruse Bereavement Care North Wales will implement changes to the delivery of their services due to COVID-19 by offering remote support to bereaved people, Tudno Playschool will sustain the work they do within the childcare sector, supporting vulnerable families in the area, and Chabad Retreat Centre will make changes to the centre in Llandudno to provide a safe and usable space to support the community when it emerges from lockdown.
Age Connects North Wales Central will use a £9,930 grant to produce a regular newsletter for older people in Conwy and Denbighshire to provide support and information through these challenging times. Local people will be encouraged to contribute to the newsletter, maintaining a connection to their community.
Meanwhile in Gwynedd, two groups have received £10,000 National Lottery grants each. Food for All will expand their operations sustainably, setting up an income-generating activity repairing broken bikes. This will enable them to continue providing meals and food packages to those experiencing food poverty in the Tywyn area. Gŵyl Fwyd Caernarfon in Gwynedd will contribute to the ‘Porthi Pawb’ project, providing homemade meals to families and individuals in the Caernarfon area negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Catriona Learmont, Funding Officer for The National Lottery Community Fund in north Wales, said: “These groups across north Wales are a brilliant example of how charities are working hard to support their communities as we move into the autumn and winter of this challenging year. Organisations we have funded in Wrexham are working in partnership with each other to better support the community’s need, which is great to see. Thank you to National Lottery players for making it possible to fund these projects that are making a huge difference to the lives of so many.”
